Double scalpel for removal of scar tissue



July 1, 1969 A. M. STAYER DOUBLE SCALPEL FOR REMOVAL OF SCAR TISSUEFiled Aug. 19, 1966 FIG. 4

FiG 5 INVENTOR. ANNA M. STAYER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,452,754DOUBLE SCALPEL FOR REMOVAL OF SCAR TISSUE Anna M. Stayer, 1818 FreemanSt., Marysville, Calif. 95901 Filed Aug. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 573,684 Int.Cl. A61b 17/32; B26b 3/04 US. Cl. 128305 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to scalpels, and has for one of itsobjects the provision of a double scalpel for use by surgeons in theremoval of scar tissue.

Under present procedures, the scar resulting from the incision made by asurgeon in a first operation normally is relatively slight if the edgesof the skin along opposite sides of the incision have been properlysutured following the operation and no complications have developed.There are no differences in contour between the edges of the skin alongthe line of the incision since they were produced at the same time by asingle scalpel.

Many times it becomes necessary to perform one or more operations atsubstantially the same site, as in Cesarean operations, and theincisions are made along the line of the original incision, resulting inthe formation of scar tissue, and with each repetition of the incisionthe width of the scar tissue increases, and may increase to an inch ormore in width.

The normal operational procedure adopted for the removal of such scartissue is to employ a single conventional scalpel and to cut through theskin along lines re spectively disposed at opposite sides of the scartissue. The skin between the corresponding ends of such lines is cutthrough and then the skin between the lines is then removed.

This procedure is diflicult and unsatisfactory for the reason that theskin immediately following the cut made by the scalpel pulls awayirregularly, there being scar tissue along one side of the incision andvirgin tissue along the other side, and after the scar tissue is removedthe edges of the skin to be drawn together by sutures are notcomplementary in linear contour nor are they straight. For this reason,an unsightly scar may be unavoidable and the difiiculty of properlysuturing or uniting the irregular edges of the virgin skin is greaterthan in the case of the initial single incision in virgin skin.

Surgeons have, from time-to-time, tried to overcome the abovedifli'culties attendant upon removing scar tissue by attempting to holda pair of scalpels in one hand and to make the incision along parallelpaths at the same time. Obviously this is a diflicult procedure and ahazardous one. The points of the blades of the scalpels must bepositioned and held to cut the same depth at the same time. To so hold apair of separate scalpels is awkward at best, and there is imminentdanger of slippage of one or the other with bad results.

Conventional scalpels are of different sizes and in actual practice atthe present time, relatively short rigid blades are releasably securedon one end of a handle. The cutting edge itself may be up toapproximately an inch in length and linearly convexly curved at theouter end of the blade to facilitate moving the blade through the skinwith the pointed outer end extending through the skin and the blade at asubstantial angle, such as approximately 60 degrees relative to thesurface of the skin.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a doublescalpel that is simple, strong, and easy to firmly and safely hold inone hand during the step of simultaneously cutting through the virginskin along parallel lines at opposite sides of scar tissue in theoperation of removing said tissue.

Another object is the provision of a double scalpel that is adapted touse conventional blades adopted by surgeons, and which double scalpel isprovided with the same or similar means for securement of the bladesthereto and for removal therefrom.

In this connection, it may be noted that the blades are normally usedonce and discarded, but the handle for the blades must be sterilizedbetween uses, and another object of the invention is the provision of aholder that is as readily and efiiciently sterilized as a singlescalpel.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a doublescalpel provided with simple means for quickly adjusting the spacingbetween the cutting edges of the blades to accurately cut along parallellines at opposite sides of the scar tissue, and which double scalpel isadapted to be readily held in one hand of the surgeon with the thumb andforefinger of the hand holding the scalpel in opposed gripping relationat points adjacent to said blades, with means provided at said pointsfor securely holding the double scalpel against slippage relative to thescalpelgripping fingers.

An added object of the invention is the provision of a double scalpelhaving separate arms in generally side-byside relation and yieldablemeans at one of their ends connected therewith for yieldably urging theopposite ends of said arms toward each other at all times, and whichopposite ends have the cutting blades removably secured thereto, withadjusting means disposed between the arms adjacent to such blades forspacing said blades and opposite ends of said double scalpel differentdistances apart and for holding them in adjusted position. The saidadjusting means is in a position for tight frictional engagement withthe thumb of the hand of a person gripping said double scalpel during anoperation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a double scalpelconstructed to be firmly and comfortably held in the hand of a surgeonin a manner to insure the precision essential to accurate cuttingthrough the skin to a uniform depth along separate spaced lines and toaccurately follow a precise path during the cutting, and which scalpelstructure is such as to approximate the manner in which a single scalpelis held.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in thedrawings.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the double scalpel in aposition illustrating the position of the blades relative to scar tissuein the operation of cutting through the skin to remove such tissue, thehand of the surgeon being indicated in broken lines between the viewerand the scalpel.

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the scalpel of FIG. 1 as seen fromthe left-hand side of the latter as viewed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of one of the scalpel blades removed from onearm of the holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a portion of the holderas seen from line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a greatly reduced side-elevational view of the double scalpelapproximately in a position for use, the holding hand being shown indotted lines.

In detail, the blade holding body of the scalpel illustrated comprises apair of elongated arms generally designated 1, 2, which arms are rigidlyconnected at one of their ends by an end piece 3. Their connected endsmay be called inner ends since their opposite, or outer ends, are notconnected.

Arms 1, 2 are formed with angularly extending portions 4 intermediatetheir ends where they are cut away along opposite edges to a line 5(FIG. 4) to cross each other. Each of said arms is rigid except for arelatively thin section 6 adjoining the end piece 3 and these sectionsare of flexible spring material that are under tension for continuouslyspringing apart the parts 7, 8 of said arms, extending to the cut outportions whereby the outer end sections 9, 10 will automatically beunder yieldable tension for movement toward each other. In the absenceof any stop means between the outer end sections 9, 10, said sectionswould be yieldably held substantially in engage ment with each other,with the parts 7, 81 extending divergently apart from the end piece 3,and pressure against the opposite outer sides of the spaced or divergentends of said parts 7, 8 will move the outer sections apart.

Threadedly extending through the outer section 10 of arm 2 and part 8 isa screw 13, having a circular head 14 on its outer end spaced outwardlyto one side of the pair of arms, and the other or inner end of saidscrew abuts the inner side of the outer end section 9 of arm 1. Thisscrew and its abutting end portion are adjacent to the crossing portions4. Head 14 is preferably about .7 of an inch in diameter, and itsoutwardly facing surface 15 is concave so as to form a shallow recessfor approximately following the convex contour of the pulp on the thumb16, the latter being indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1. Head 14 alsoprovides means for manually rotating screw 13. Upon rotation of thelatter in one direction the portion of the screw between sections 9, 10will be extended to move said sections apart, while upon oppositerotation of the screw, the spring sections 6 will move the sections 9,10 toward each other according to the degree of extension of the screw.At any time, however, the person holding the device may quickly spreadthe sections 9, 10 by manually pressing together the divergent ends ofportions 7, 8, and upon release, they will automatically move towardeach other until the section 9 abuts the inner end of screw 13.

The outer ends of the sections 9, 10 are the blade holding ends, andthese may be designated 18 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) and each has a conventionalscalpel blade 19 removably secured thereto. The structure of said bladeholding ends 18 of arms 1, 2 is conventional, as are blades 19, saidends 18 being rigid and in longitudinal outward extension of sections 9,1t) and substantially narrower than blades 17.

Each end 18 is formed along its opposite upper and lower edges (assumingthe double scalpel is horizontal as seen in FIG. 2) with a thickenedouter end section 20 extending from the outermost end of each end 18- toa point 23 (FIGS. 1, 2) and the end 18 is then of reduced thickness at24 (FIG. 1) for a short distance to an angularly extending shoulder 25(FIG. 2) that extends slantingly downwardly and rearwardly in adirection generally away from the thickened portion or section 20.

Each blade 19 is formed with a slot 26 extending longitudinally of theblade, approximately one half of its length, extending from the outerend of the blade, being narrower, as seen at 27 in FIG. 3, than theremaining half 28. The rear end of each blade 19 is slanted tocorrespond to the slant of shoulder 25.

The upper and lower edges of the thickened portion 20 of each section 18are formed with parallel upwardly and downwardly opening grooves 29(FIG. 5). The bottoms of these grooves are spaced apart approximatelythe distance between the edges of the narrow end portion 27 of slot 26in each blade 19, while the vertical width of each portion 20 isapproximately equal to the distance between the edges of the wider endportion 28 of each slot 26.

It is pertinent to note that the thickened portions 20 projectoppositely outwardly of the outer ends of the blade holding portions 18relative to the oppositely outwardly facing surfaces of the'thinnedsections 24 (FIG. 1). This is so that the blades 19 may be attached andremoved from the oppositely outwardly facing sides of the pair ofportions 18.

Each blade 19 has a sharpened edge 30 (FIG. 3) that extends convexlyfrom a point even with the back 33 of the blade, each such back beingstraight and defined by oppositely outwardly extending flanges 34 (FIG.5

In securing a blade onto the outer end of each end portion 18, the bladeis positioned against the outer side of portion 18 and the inner endedges of the portion 27 of slot 26 are inserted in the outer ends ofgrooves 29. The rear portions of each blade is sprung slightly outwardlyrelative to the forward or outer end portion when in this position, andupon sliding each blade rearwardly the yieldable tension may slightlyincrease until the portion of the blade at the rear end of the widerportion 28 of slot 27 clears the thickened rear end of portion 18, andat this point the part of blade 19 between the slanted rear edge thereofand the rear end of slot 26 will snap against the lateral outer side ofthe thinned portion 24 of the arm and the blade will be rigidly heldagainst movement in any direction.

To remove the blade, the rear end portion must be sprung out outwardlyof the thinned portion 24 adjacent thereto and pushed forwardly untilthe edges of the forward portion 27 of slot 26 clears the grooves 29.

The outer side of the portion 9 of arm 1 is formed with a shallowconcavity 35 that may be slightly roughened, as by ribs (FIGS. 1, 4) ata point about opposite to the point where the outer end of screw 13engages said portion 9. This concavity extends transversely across theouter side of portion 9 and is in a position for receiving the convexlycurved portion of index finger 36 of the hand in approximately opposedrelation to the thumb when the later is in engagement with the screwhead 14.

When in use, the arms 9, 10 outwardly or forwardly of the crossedportions 4 will be tightly held against separation by the combinedtension of sections 6 and the gripping elfect of the thumb andforefinger of the hand respectively engaging the outer surface of head14 and the concave surface 35 of arm portion 9.

The parts 7, 8 and the connector 3 will normally extend into the palmportion of the hand with the part 3 engaging the palm side of the handalong the edge extending from the little finger toward the wrist, or theabductor minimi digiti.

When so held, the double scalpel cannot accidentally twist in the hand,nor slip, but every movement thereof is under full control of the handand braced for application of the desired force to the cutting edges.Furthermore, the surgeon may instantly spread the blades for cleaning orwiping them by transferring pressure to the portions 7, 8, after whichthe blades will automatically resume their correct spacing when thepressure against portions 7, 8 is released.

In an operation, the scar tissue is indicated at 37 in FIG. 1. Theblades are adjusted to follow lines 38 adjoining opposite sides of thetissue. A V-cut 39 is made through the skin at one end of the strip oftissue and the two scalpels of the device are then inserted through theskin at the divergent ends of the V-cut and the double scalpel is thendrawn along lines 38 from one end of the scar tissue to the other toleave free edges of virgin skin along the cuts at opposite sides of thetissue. At the end of the cut, the skin may be similarly formed with aV-cut at the completion of the operation and the scar tissue is thenremoved and the free edges of virgin skin sutured together, after whichthe scar, if any, will be the same as where a single incision has beenmade in virgin skin.

The double scalpel is normally held in approximately the position shownin FIG. 6 during the cutting movement along lines 38.

Where plastic surgery is performed torremove displeasing scars, thedouble scalpel may be smaller, and the blades are smaller. Theconventional blades come in different sizes and contours, but follow thesame structure for attachment and removal from a handle, as abovedescribed. Obviously the blades are not used for slicing, since thethickened portion 18 projects from opposite sides of each blade, nor isthere a handle for gripping by the fingers of a hand in the same manneras where a single handle on a knife is held in the hand for slicing.

It is obvious that certain modifications and changes may be made in theinvention as described, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A double scalpel for use in the removal of scar tissue, comprising:

(a) a pair of elongated arms in generally side-by-side relation in asingle plane;

(b) means connecting said arms at one of their ends, and their oppositeends being movable toward and away from each other;

(c) blade holding means on said opposite ends of said arms for removablysecuring a scalpel blade, having a cutting edge to each arm in aposition with the cutting edges of the blades so secured facing to thesame side of said plane;

(d) arm spacing means connected with one of said arms and in engagementwith the other manually actuatable for spacing said opposite ends ofsaid arms different distances apart for simultaneously cutting throughthe skin by said cutting edges 9n said blades along opposite sides of astrip of scar tissue when such scalpel blades are secured to saidopposite ends of said arms;

(e) finger engageable means rigid with the arms of said pair forgripping between the opposedly positioned thumb and forefinger of a handof a surgeon for firmly holding said double scalpel during cutting theskin along said opposite sides of a strip of scar tissue for removalthereof;

(f) said arms crossing each other at a point intermediate their endsproviding inner end portions including said one of their ends at oneside of said point and outer end portions including said blade holdingmeans, said inner end portions having spring sections under constanttension for continuously yieldably urging said outer end portions in adirection toward each other;

(g) said arm spacing means including a screw threadedly connected withone of said outer end portions rotatable for axial movement thereofchanging the spacing between said outer end portions and for holding theother arm at each of its different distances from said one arm when saidscrew is stationary;

(h) a head on the end of said screw outwardly of the pair of outer endportions for rotating said screw to change the spacing between saidouter end portions;

(i) said finger engageable means including the outer surface of saidhead relative to said screw, and said outer surface being concave toreceive the pulp of the thumb.

2. A double scalpel for use in the removal of scar tissue, comprising:

(a) a pair of elongated arms in general side-by-side relation in asingle plane;

(b) means connecting said arms at one of their terminal ends onlysupporting them for movement of their opposite ends toward and away fromeach other;

(c) blade holding mean-s on said opposite ends of said arms forremovably securing a scalpel blade, having a cutting edge, to each armin a position with the cutting edges of the blades so secured facing tothe same side of said plane;

((1) arm spacing means connected with one of said arms, and at a fixedposition intermediate the ends of said arm, and in engagement with theother, manually actuable for spacing said opposite ends of said armsdifferent distances apart for simultaneously cutting through the-skin bysaid cutting edges on said blades along opposite sides of a strip ofscar tissue when such scalpel blades are secured to said opposite endsof said arms;

(e) finger engageable means respectively on the arms of said pair inpositions adjacent said opposite ends of said arms for gripping betweenthe opposedly positioned thumb and forefinger of a hand of a surgeon forfirmly holding said double scalpel during cutting the skin along saidopposite sides of a strip of scar tissue for removal thereof;

(f) a scalpel blade secured by said blade holding means on each of saidopposite ends of said arms and against one of the oppositely outwardlyfacing sides of said opposite ends relative to a point intermediate themproviding a pair of scalpel blades on said opposite ends of said arms,said blades having cutting edges projecting beyond said opposite endsoutwardly thereof with said cutting edges facing in the same directionto one side of said plane;

(g) means for removably securing said blades against said oppositelyoutwardly facing sides whereby said blades may be removed and replacedfrom the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said arms irrespective ofthe degree of spacing between the outer ends of said arms;

(h) said means connecting one of said ends of said arms including aportion of at least one of said arms continuously yieldably urging oneof said opposite ends of said arms toward each other, and

(i) said arm spacing means including a screw threadedly extendingthrough said one of said arms for movement thereof to different degreesof extension between said arms upon rotation thereof whereby saidopposite ends of said arms will move different distances apartcorresponding to said different degrees of extension, and a head on saidscrew for manual engagement for rotating said screw for effecting saiddefferent degrees of extension thereof and the diflferent spacings ofsaid arms, and said head having an axially outwardly facing surface freefor engagement by said thumb when said double scalpel is held duringsaid cutting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,639,996 8/1927 Groff 128305 X3,276,120 10/1966 Scott et al. 30342 FOREIGN PATENTS 35,841 6/1886Germany.

1,182,547 1/1959 France.

769,917 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JOHN D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 30-473, 304

